Brain Fitness has changed my life!

"Brain Fitness classes have changed my life.  I thought I was doomed to have poor retention and a poor memory for the rest of my life. Since childhood, I thought something was abnormal about my brain.  I had trouble learning and understanding, not only through my school years but also in many work situations.  I learned to cope and hide these things from classmates and coworkers.  I was ashamed and stressed.  I overate to stuff my feelings of inadequacy and to keep people from finding out that I was "stupid".

In January 2010, I discovered a new class at my local senior center - Brain Fitness.  I signed up wondering what good could it do, and much to my surprise, happiness and gratitude, it did a great deal of good.  I enjoyed learning about the brain; that you can teach an old dog new tricks.  Doing brain exercises and games, both in class and online, my brain miraculously became normal.  Where I couldn't recall or relate, for example, about a book I just read, I have now learned, memorized, visualized and can recite all of the United States presidents in chronological order.  And, with some effort, can recite them backwards.  I now have a normal brain and want to make up for all the years that I couldn't learn.  I watch the TV program, "Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?", and am learning and retaining much of the information from that show that I couldn't learn when I was actually in the 5th grade.  I wish this program had been available when I was younger.  I can only imagine how much better my life would have been.

I impress people now with information I know that others don't know or recall.  It's like I have started my life over.  At a lecture, I heard a neuroscientist say that one of the best ways to grow new brain cells is to learn a musical instrument.  So, I am now learning to play the piano.  Soon I am going to take bridge lessons.  Then, maybe a foreign language.  Thanks to brain fitness, my senior years are now becoming the best years of my life.  I love my brain and I love life."

— contributed by Jill Davis, Brain Fitness class/Elsie Stuhr Center 2010

WHAT IS SENIOR BRAIN FITNESS?

It sounds good - but what is it exactly?

The brain is constantly adapting to new experiences.  When learning new skills, the brain reprograms itself.  It needs to have the right kind of mental exercise: measurable and increasing in intensity and difficulty.

• The OLD belief is that learning and changes in the brain occurred in early years only.
• We know now that the brain controls its own activity - its PLASTICITY - at any age.  This is the process called NEUROGENESIS.
• Research on normal aging has shown that cognitive decline can be slowed down by keeping the brain challenged and active.
• To maintain an active lifestyle, you need to stay as mentally sharp as possible.
• We teach classes in brain fitness in the Portland area.  We do mental exercises that increase in difficulty and intensity to stimulate the growth of new neurons.  We use music and the metronome to help keep the brain organized while applying mental challenges.